US1923113A

US1923113A - Aeroplane map device

Info

Publication number: US1923113A
Application number: US431903A
Authority: US
Inventors: David H Norvell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-02-27
Filing date: 1930-02-27
Publication date: 1933-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1950-08-22

Description

Aug. 22, 1933. D. NORVELL 1,923,113

AEROPLANE MAP DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 19:50 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f M T flat id. H [Van ell Aug. 22, I933.

Filed Feb. 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 22, D NORVELL 1,923,].

AEROPLANE MAP DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 22, 1933- D. H. NORVELL 1,923,113

AEROPLANE MAP DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 49 pal id H J/OJ'WZZ.

Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNITED STATES "PATENT LoFFicE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a map device primarily adapted for use on aeroplanes to plot and ascertain the route. I

It is aimed to provide an exceedingly compact construction wherein maps of the roll strip type may be accommodated and used and wherein larger maps of the folded sheet type may also be accommodated and used. 1

Another object is to provide a novel construc tion which may be equipped with protractor means. r

A further object is to provide a novel construction wherein the parts are extensible for coaction with the folded sheet map and wherein one protractor construction may be thrown into or out of operative position for'coaction therewith.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying 3 drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawingsz- Figure 1 is a plan view of the device, the supporting walls for a sheet map being shown extended in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the device of Figure 1,

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken on the lines 3-3, 4-4 and 55, respectively, of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the device showing the auxiliary protractor in place, and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the device showing the auxiliary protractor in place.

7 Referring specifically to the drawings, the device embodies a suitable casing such as the rectangular one shown at 10. Extending rearwardly from the casing are ears ll which have serrated plates 12 thereon adapted to engage serrated plates 13, and be detachably connected thereto as by means of bolts 14. The plates 13 by means of arms 15 are adapted to be connected to the instrument board of an aeroplane. The serrations on the

plates

12 and 13 enable disposition of the casing 10 at any desiredangle.

A suitable clasp device A is carried on the casing adjacent the ears l1 and is used for holding sheet maps in folded condition. This clasp means comprises attaching arms 16 and pressure arms 17 connected thereto by means of coils 18. The pressure arms 17 at their lower ends engage the casing 10 and adjacent the same are connected by a transverse rod 18 from which a knob 19 extends. v It will be understood that themaps are placed between the arms 1'7 and rod 18 and the casing 10 and are resiliently held against the latter. 1 v Y 'Rotatable within the-casing 10 adjacent the opposite ends thereof are spools or drums'20 for instance having wooden spindles 21 and metal flanges or end disks 22 suitably fastened thereto. Extending outwardly from the side walls of the casing 10 alined with the members 21 are housings 23in which clutch rods 24 are slidably and rotatably mounted. Such clutch rods 24 have clutch heads 25 detachably engaging suitable clutch means at the ends of the spools 20. Such clutch means are held normally in engagement through the'action of an expansive coil spring 26 surrounding the rods 24 and abutting the housings 23 and stops 2'? on such rods.

The rods 24 are adapted to be retracted by engagement with knurled operating knobs 28, in

order to engage and'disengage the spools 20 so that they maybe removed or'mounted. It will 5 be noted that the operating devices for the spools are located at each end thereof so that the operator may manipulate the same either with the right or left hand.

Removably engaged with the shaft or cores 21 of the spools are the ends of a map of suitable sheet material 30, the map being adapted to be wound onto one spool as it is paid off the other and vice versa. Such map passes over idler rollers 31 and also over the platen 32 which is removable and detachably held in place by the engagement of a spring clasp 33 with a cross bolt 34, additional means such as'lugs or rests 35 being provided on the casing 10 for engagement by the platen on opposite sides of the bolt 34.

Spools containing maps such as 30 maybe detachably carried Within the casing 10, the ends of their hubs being engageable bylugs 36 which form part of spring arms 37 fastened as at 38 to the side walls of said casing 10.

The invention has a suitable protractor arranged over the platen 32 and in cooperating rela- 7 tion to the map 30. The map as will be understood contains means to delineate the route, the degree of travel, the landing fields, towns, altitude marks, mountain ranges to be crossed, distances between points or routes and the like. A protractor is shown at 39 being delineated for example on a transparent sheet 40 of celluloid or other material fastened as at 41 to the casing 10. Movable over the protractor 39 and coacting with the indications thereof is a pointer or indicator 42 pivoted to the sheet at 43. A clasp 44 may be carried by the sheet 40 for engagement by the indicator 42 when the same is not in use.

It will be realized that the rolls or spools 20 accommodate the use of special maps. In order to permit the use of larger maps and in fact practically any map, means are provided whereby the surface of the casing may be extended and used as a support for such a map. To this end, map

supporting wings 45 are hinged to the casing at 46 v and have various openings 47 therethrough, permitting such wings to be folded flat against the sides and one end of the casing, with the adjacent parts extending through the openings 47. Latches 48 of any suitable spring or other type are adapted to enter openings 49 in the wings and engage the same to normally hold them against opening. The fit at the hinges 46 is relatively tight so that the wings will remain in the open position of themselves, that is the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and in full lines in Figure '7.

To coact with maps supported in the casing and extended wings 45, a larger protractor than that disclosed at 39 is necessary. To this end, such a large protractor is provided at 50, constituting for example anintegral part ofa celluloid or transparent sheet 51. Such sheet 51 has a pointer or indicator 52 pivoted at the'center thereof and which is extended as shown at 53 to point directly to a position on the map, 54 designating a handle or knob for convenience in moving the pointer 52. The sheet 51 is fastened to a bracket 55 as by means of screws 56 and such bracket carries a clasp 5'7 engageable by'the pointer 52 so as to normally hold the latter inactive. The bracket 55 has attaching arms 58 and a series of serrated portions 59 thereon, adapted for selective engagement with serrated plates 60 mounted on extension members 61 pivoted as at 62 to the casing 10. Bolts 63 pass through the members 59 and extensions 61 and adjustably secure the parts in place. It will be realized that the sheet 51 may be swung from the axis 63 to a position which will not obscure the other protractor and map when the large protractor is not in use. It will be understood that when the sheet 51 and bracket 55 are not used, that the extensions 61 may be folded across the casing 10 for compactness. The strip map is usually four inches Wide, the route of travel is in the longitudinal middle thereof, and if the map be made on a scale of fifteen miles to the inch there would be a span of thirty miles in each side of the route. The map will show all available landing ports or fields within the area covered by the map. Should the aeroplane experience adverse weather conditions, or mechanical difliculties, making it necessary to make a forced landing, the navigator may select the nearest available landing port or field as shown on the map, and by moving the hand 42 to point in the direction of such landing the hand will indicate on the dial 39 the number of degrees off its course that the plane will have to proceed to make the landing.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. 4

I claim as my invention:

A. device of the class described comprising a casing, extensible means on the casing to support a map, a sheet of material provided with a protractor mounted on the casing in oifset relation thereto and in cooperative relation with the map, a bracket supporting said sheet and adjustably securing it to the casing whereby it may be moved into and out of operative position over said map, said bracket having arms, serrated portions on said arms, extensions on said casing, said extensions having serrated portions selectively engageable with the serrated portions of the arms, and bolts to secure engaged serrated portions together.

' DAVID H. NORVELL.